My yoga journey started about the time I was six years old, twirling around in a dance studio in Hawaii. Something about wearing sparkly pink tutus spoke to me, and I was hooked. As I got older, I grew to love the artful strength that came with mastering the movements. It also became a sense of therapy, a way to calm my mind after school and bring my attention to a more physical focus. I had never been very athletically inclined in the more traditional team sports, but, as the challenges of dance became harder I quickly realized that it was as much of a physical and mental outlet.

I loved dance so much that when I went off to college, I intentionally decided on a school that had a great dance program in case I chose to pursue it as a career. I found myself heading across the country, just as nervous about surviving my first real winter as I was for the actual classes. Somewhere in the midst of trying to find my academic passion, my to dance had fallen to the wayside. It wasn’t until my final semester, when I enrolled in my first dance class in three years, that I was reminded of the beauty and the strength behind working within your own body. I had truly missed it.

After graduating, I moved back home without any plan for what I wanted to do with my life. I quickly picked up anything that came along, including a front desk job at a Bikram yoga studio. It was mainly a way to make some extra money alongside my unpaid internship, and the static, militaristic style of Bikram didn’t appeal to the fluid moving dancer within me. Nevertheless, I found myself intrigued by the culture within the studio. There was a sense of calm and community within the space, and the teachers always seemed to have a genuine smile.

A few months later I started at a new job, and shortly afterwards I found myself unable to continue at the yoga studio. I saw it as a good thing – my career was growing! Another two years later it continued to grow under a large corporation with lots of promise and opportunities. The longer I was at that job, the more I realized how much I disliked the corporate business model. It came with stress, anxiety, and pressure. Though many of my coworkers continued to compliment my calm and collected demeanor, I knew internally that my mentality had shifted to focusing more on the negatives.

In an effort to relieve some stress, I started going back to yoga classes, opting for a variety of ashtanga, heated vinyasa, and power yoga. Getting back on my mat made me realize how important it is to take time for yourself and both your mental and physical health. I wanted to be able to focus on some of the more positive things I felt I had lost touch with, and decided it was time to leave my job.

So, once again, I packed up and moved across the country, without a plan for what to do next. After taking some time off to travel and reflect, I was reminded of the happy yoga teachers I had worked with years before. I had always wondered what their secret was, and figured that now was my chance to find out. I started looking into yoga teacher training programs, and being a thoroughly indecisive person, found myself going in circles. By some passing, completely radical idea, I started looking into programs in India. “If you’re going to do it, do it big!” I thought excitedly to myself as I signed up for the course and booked the ticket. A few weeks later I found myself at the airport, passport (and shady online visa) in hand, questioning if I had really thought it through or not.

In all honesty, the moment I landed I wanted to turn around and leave. It was too much, what was I thinking?! However, I managed to get into the cab (for a thoroughly terrifying taxi ride full of dodging monkeys and noticeably missing lane lines) and arrived at the place I would call home for the next month.

By the time four weeks had passed, I had a greater understanding of the various aspects of yoga, and a new appreciation for the culture surrounding it. We had explore different types of meditation, discussed anatomy, touched upon philosophy, and learned hands on how to properly conduct a class (if you would like to hear more in-depth or have any questions about my experience in India please feel free to email me as noted below!). I was lucky to have gone through the course with a wonderful group of people, and felt confident in my skills as a newly certified teacher. I have spent most of my time since then continuing to travel, and teaching where and when I can.

As for the “secret” to the happiness that I had noticed years before, I don’t think there’s any single universal answer. In my case, as I continue along my yoga journey, I have found that feeling good from the inside out and being able to pass on the practice to others through a yoga class will always put a smile on my face.

With December temperatures in the 80’s, strolling around Malibu feels more like being on a tropical vacation than a holiday winter wonderland. To help southern California residents get into the holiday spirit, the Malibu Country Mart is hosting free family events. On Saturday December 16th, guests will be greeted with an exquisitely decorated Christmas tree and a large Menorah, and families will be able to decorate homemade cookies, visit with Santa Claus between 12pm-4pm, and listen as Victorian-dressed carolers fill the air with holiday tunes. On December 23rd, be sure to check out Santa’s reindeer, who will be making a special appearance. Children will have the opportunity to meet the reindeer before they set off on their journey. Be sure to stop by this weekend and enjoy all the holiday activities. We hope to see you all there.

Recently, my husband and I had the opportunity to travel to Vancouver, Canada. It has been on our travel list for a while, and it was so much more than expected! Aside from being one of the friendliest cities I have ever visited (if not the friendliest), it was also one of the most beautiful.

Logistically, this city is easy to navigate. The transit system is easy and accessible. You can get around most of the city by train, bus, foot, or taxi. We stayed at a place through Airbnb in great part of town, right in the central part of downtown. It was easy to walk to up-and-coming neighborhoods, like Gastown and Yaletown, where there are great coffee and food offerings!

This was by far the highlight of our trip. Capilano Bridge is a suspension bridge that is about 230 feet above the Capilano river. It was constructed in 1889 and is Vancouver’s top attraction. It has the most breathtaking views, and it was a real test of our fears due to the swaying while you walk across. There are several other bridges such as the tree walk and cliff walks that are also a must do. You can celebrate your survival with a cold brew or warm beverage at the cafe they have on site.

Granville Island is a short 15 min bus ride from Downtown Vancouver. This is a primarily indoor farmers market, where you can try delicious jams, baked goods, and produce. There is also a great microbrewery, Granville Island Brewery, where you can grab a bite to eat and a great brew.

We rented bikes and rode completely around the park stopping periodically to take photos. There are massive totem poles at the beginning of the bike trail that are truly magnificent. The trail is a little over 5 miles is a fairly flat. They do have more advanced bike and walking trails through the park where there are small ponds and streams.

Thank you Vancouver for so many wonderful memories. We hope to make it back and to other parts of Canada soon!

I was raised in Northern Mexico in a small, seaside city called Tampico. The City is surrounded by water, and its essence found its way into my heart. Through this love of water, I became enthralled with fluid movement and the interaction between the body and the mind. These passions were manifest through martial arts and its traditions and competitive spirit.

Photography: John Mazlish

I began Yoga to improve my alignment and promote proper breathing during physical activities. I immediately fell in love with it and its focus on balancing the body and mind. I am new to teaching yoga, but I have an old soul with years experience in martial arts and the mind-body connection. I completed my Vinyasa Flow Yoga teacher training in 2015 in Tulum, Mexico, where I now live.

Photography: Anna Kin

Shortly after a Tribal Yoga studio opened in Tulum, I was given an opportunity to teach a class. My Sunday fun-day Tribal Yoga practice is often the highlight of my week. Our Yoga community plays with poses and I share effective ways to increase balance, flexibility, and strength as they relate to inversions, balance, and movement.

Photography: Anna Kin

As a Yogi, both on and off the mat, I consider myself a perpetual student, always open to learning different ways of teaching, practicing, and points of view in order to grow my practice. This can come from different styles of yoga, or even other disciplines in movement.

Photography : John Mazlish

Having a great relationship with Tribal Yoga and ZAMAS Hotel, along with other Tulum based companies, I am planning yoga events for the near future… because practicing and visiting paradise sounds like a dream come true.

With the beginning of the school year,, we are sharing some of our favorite hacks to make it a successful experience. Whether you are carting the kids off to school or attending school yourself, these tried and true tricks will help insure your best year yet.

#1. Plan Ahead

Sometimes finding a balance between your social, work, and school life can be quite difficult. Use a planner to have a visual outline of your schedule to gain some peace of mind! Being able to see the tasks that need to be completed will prompt you to finish them before the deadline. to give yourself more free time. For students, getting your studying and homework done early allows for less anxiety and a more successful school year! Check out these cute planner options here.

#2. Make The Bed

Start your morning off by completing the simple task of MAKING your bed! Studies have shown that those who make their bed in the morning are happier, more likely to go to the gym, enjoy their job, and sleep better throughout the night. Making your bed in the morning sets you up for a successful day, promoting a domino effect of task completions.

#3. No Rush Breakfast

During the week, mornings can be hectic in most households.While reaching for a box of cereal may seem like a good idea in the moment, it just isn’t enough to get you through ‘till lunch. Making a big batch of overnight oats on Sunday night helps minimize the chaos throughout the week (since it lasts for up to 5 days.) Making breakfast once at the beginning of the week allows for a calmer morning routine.This recipe from Das Cookbook is healthy, filling and absolutely delicious.

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